When to Lift Onions in Indiana, and How to Cure Them
Lift onions once the tops have flopped over and the necks have gone soft. Then cure them in a warm, shaded, airy spot until the necks are tight and the…
Gardening in Indiana
Everything we have worked out for Indiana: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Indianapolis, the last spring freeze runs April 9 to April 21 and the first fall freeze runs October 21 to October 30, USDA zones 5b-7a, 3,822 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 21.8 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Indiana: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
What Eats Asparagus in Indiana, and When
No pest calendar sits behind this page, and inventing one would be worse than skipping it.
How Late Can You Plant Trees and Shrubs in Fall in Indiana?
In Indiana, the safe target for fall planting is September 9 to September 18, which is six weeks before the first fall frost (October 21 to October 30 at…
Growing Roses in Indiana: Planting Dates, Varieties and Local Pests
Plant bare-root roses in Indiana as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring.
Hedge Plants for Indiana: What Holds, and What Only Looks Hardy
Ten of the twelve hedge species documented on this site survive the full range of Indiana winters, USDA zones 5b to 7a.
Growing Hydrangeas in Indiana: Types, Colour and Winter
In Indianapolis, the last 32F freeze usually lands between April 9 and April 21, and the first one of fall between October 21 and October 30.
How High Can a Hedge Be in Indiana? What the Law Actually Says
Indiana has no statewide hedge height law. There is no section of the Indiana Code that tells you how tall a hedge can grow before it becomes illegal.
Roof Snow Load, Wind Speed and Ice Barrier Rules in Indiana
Indianapolis’s design snow load, wind speed and ice barrier rule come from different codes and figures, and each governs a different part of a roof.
Finishing a Basement in Indiana: Permits, Ceiling Height, Egress and Waterproofing
Indiana’s own residential code sets exact basement ceiling height, egress window, and permit rules, plus how to tell a leak from condensation.
What Eats Pepper in Indiana, and When
In Indiana, ten insect pests show up regularly enough for Purdue Extension Entomology to document them for home vegetable gardens, but only about half…